Poultry watering devices



Oct. 15, 1963 J. B. GODSHALK 3,106,907

PouLTRY WATERING DEVICES Original Filed Nov. 6. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l 78.4,62 Erg. l i m 52 l fg/ A i y 67O `\760 6g I f 64M* 70 EF. 2 j T. E 6....55

6b INVENTOR.

O 2 dwf/f5. anw/4M 73 BM wy@ A TTORNEKQ' Oct. 15, 1963 J. B. GoDsHALKPOULTRY WATERING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 6, 1958INVENTOR. L//Vf J/K BY m i( 74% ATTORNEY5o United States Patent @dice .Y3,106,907 Patented Oct. 15, 1963 3,106,967 POULTRY WATERING DEVICESJames B. Godshallt, Chester Springs, Pa., assignor to Fox ProductsCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Originalapplication Nov. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 772,213, now Patent No. 3,023,770,dated Mar. 6, 1962. Divided and this application ct. 31, 1961, Ser. No.148,926 5 Claims. (Cl. 119-72) This invention relates to poultrywatering devices, such as automatic poultry watering troughs, and todrain and filing features thereof. This application is a division of mycopending application Serial Number 772,213, tiled November 6, 1958, andnow Patent 3,023,770.

In the raising of chickens, turkeys, etc., it is now the common practiceto employ automatic watering devices including a trough or similarcontainer which is supplied with water via an automatically operatedvalve to maintain the water at a predetermined level. While such devicesare widely used with considerable success, they have the drawback thatthe trough or other container must be periodically cleaned manually toremove ordinary dirt, drippings, and such other foreign material as maytend to pollute the water and clog the system. To solve this difliculty,it has heretofore been proposed that the water be owed continuallythrough the trough and thus carry away the dirt and the like.Arrangements to accomplish this have, however, not been satisfactory ona commercial basis because of the tendency for the necessary drainequipment to become clogged so that the troughs overilowed. Further,such arrangements rather drastically increase the water consumption andare therefore uneconomical.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved poultrywatering device having means whereby the trough or other wateringcontainer is periodically drained in such fashion as to rapidly flushout the same and therefore accomplish satisfactory cleaning.

Another object is to provide an improved automatic drain mechanism forpoultry watering troughs and the like.

A further object is to de vise an improved drain mechanism whichobviates the necessity for employing an outflow valve of the typecomprising a movable valve element working in combination with a seat.

Yet another object is to provide certain valuable improvements inpoultry watering equipment which are particularly applicable tosituations where very long watering troughs are employed.

A further object is to devise a novel, automatic drain system forpoultry watering devices which is substantially completely free from anytendency to jam or to become clogged.

In order that the manner in which these and other objects areaccomplished in accordance with the invention can be understood indetail, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, which form a partof this specilication, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a View partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of apoultry trough drain means constructed in accordance with one embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 2--2, FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of a poultry trough drain deviceconstructed in accordance with another ernbodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View on line 44, FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical motor controlcircuit employed in the device of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Before referring to the drawings in detail, it is to be understood thatthis invention is applicable to the usual elongated poultry wateringtrough equipped with an automatic filling valve of any of theconventional types, either electrically operated or Weight operated, allas described in detail in the aforesaid copending application SerialNumber 772,213. Turning now to the drawings, it will be seen that theautomatic drain device of this embodiment involves a pivoted trough endclosure, indicated at 61, arranged for actuation by an electromagneticdevice indicated generally at 62. End closure 61 includes a molded,flexible rubber closure member 63 having a continuous edge portion 64overlapping the outer face of the open end of trough 65 and securedthereto in fluid-tight relation by a metal strip 66 and rivets or othersuitable fastening devices 67. Flexible closure member 63 has generallytriangular side portions 68 and a fiat end wall 69. A metal plate 70 issecured to the inner face of end wall 69 in any suitable fashion, as byrivets 71, and is provided at its bottom end with a curved finger 72extending freely through a slot in an upwardly offset tongue 73 formedat the bottom of the trough end. Thus, elements '72, 73 combine to forma hinge about which the end closure is actuated.

Closure member 63 is resilient in nature, tending normally to occupy theposition illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 1, in which position the endof trough 65 is closed so that water can be maintained at a desiredlevel in the trough. Closure member 63 can be actuated to the openposition, illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 1, by electromagneticdevice 62.

Actuator 62 includes a cylindrical housing 74 having axially aligned endopenings accommodating a centrally disposed guide tube 75,electromagnetic actuating `winding 76 being disposed within the housingabout the guide tube. The core 77 of the device, made of a material ofhigh magnetic permeability, is urged to a normal upper position by ahelical compression spring 78 working between the bottom end of the coreand an inturned ange 79 at the bottom end of tube 75. An actuatingplunger 80, formed integrally with or rigidly xed to'core 77, eX- tendsdownwardly through tube 75, the rounded nose of the plunger directlyengaging plate 70. Housing 74 is carried by a mounting strap S1, theends of which are brought together and secured between the ends of strap66, as by bolts 82, in the manner best seen in FIG. 2.

Winding'76 of actuator 62 is supplied with current and controlled in themanner described in detail in my aforementioned parent applicationSerial Number 772,- 213. Hence, the winding 76 is periodicallyenergized, causing core 77 to be drawn downwardly, against the biasingaction of spring 78. As the core descends, plunger 80 forces plate 70 topivot downwardly, closure member 63 thus being distorted until the partsreach the open position illustrated by the phantom lines of FIG. 1. Theend closure is maintained in such open position, allowing the water tobe drained from trough 65 and the trough thus to be hushed, untilwinding 76 is again de-energized. Spring 78 then raises core 77 andplunger 80 to their raised positions, seen in full lines in FIG. 1, andclosure member 63 returns to its trough closing position by reason ofits inherent resiliency.

The embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 employs a flexible, trough end closure meanssimilar to that just described but in connection with a rotary actuator.Here, the closure member 63, trough 65 and hinged plate 70 remain asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, but pivotal movement of plate70, and hence distortion of member 63 to open position, are accomplishedthrough a crank 83 driven by an electric motor 84 via speed reductiongear box 85. Crank S3 is fixed to output shaft 86 of the gear box, theentire unit being supported from 3 a side wall of the trough by brackets87, 83 in such fashion that the drive shaft 86 extends transversely withrespect to the trough and, as seen in FIG. 4, is substantially alignedwith the pivotal axis of trough end closure member 63.

Crank 83 has a portion 89 extending parallel to shaft 86 and rotatablyattached to end closure member 63 by a bearing bracket 90. Bracket 90includes straight end portions 91, secured to elements 69, 70 by rivets92, and a central, semicircular portion 93 embracing portion 89 of thecrank and urging the same lightly against the outer surface of moldedrubber member 63.

Accordingly, when drive shaft 86 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in FIG.4, the resulting turning motion of the crank will actuate the endclosure member 63 to the open, trough-draining position illustrated inphantom lines in FIG. 4. Conversely, an appropriate amount ofcounterclockwise rotation of shaft 86 will, through crank 83, return theclosure to the position illustrated in full lines in FIG. 4, whereinthat member is effective to close the end of the trough.

In order to accomplish proper control of motor S4, the circuit of FIG. 5is employed. Motor 84 is an AC.- D.C. universal series motor ofconventional type, reversible by reversing the direction of current owthrough eld coil 849. The control circuit includes two open switches T1and two close switches T2, all actuated by a suitable time clockmechanism, and two limit switches L1 and L2 actuated by output shaft 86.Field coil 34a is connected to supply conductors 94, 95 via eitherconductors 96 and 97, for operation of the motor in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 4, or conductors 93 and 99, for operationof the motor in the reverse direction. Limit switch L1 and time switchesT1 are connected in series in the combination of conductors 96, 9'7.Limit switch L2 and time switches T2 are connected in series in thecombination of conductors 98, 99.

Limit switch L1 is so arranged on shaft S6 as to be maintained closeduntil the shaft is so rotated that closure member 63 approaches theposition seen in phantom lines in FIG. 4, at which time switch L1 opens.Limit switch L2 is so arranged on shaft 86 as to be maintained closeduntil the shaft, during counter-clockwise rotation as viewed in FIG. 4,moves closure member 63 substantially to the closed position illustratedin full lines. Open and close switches T1 and T2 can be considered asnormally open and are so actuated by the timer mechanism that, in agiven time period, such as 24 hours, switchesl T1 are rst closed tocause motor 84 to actuate closure member 63 to full open,trough-draining position, the circuit then being broken by opening oflimit switch L1. Switches T2 are then closed by the timer mechanismafter a predetermined draining period, say 5 minutes, causing the motorto operate in the reverse direction, positively driving closure member63 to the closed position, limit switch L2 now acting to interrupt thecircuit. Since the series circuit portions including the switches aredominated by the positively actuated limit switches, the open- 4 ingtimes for switches T1 and T2 are not critical. The open-drain-closecycle just described is carried out only once during the predeterminedtime period involved.

While certain advantageous embodiments have been chosen to illustratethe invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modications can be made therein without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a watering device of the type used to supply water to poultry anelongated generally horizontally disposed watering trough having one endthereof open a lexible end closure having edge portions xedly sccured inHuid-tight relation to said open end of said trough,

said end closure having a normal shape such as to extend across the openend of the trough to close said open end to confine at least apredetermined amount of liquid in said trough for consumption bypoultry,

said end closure being distortable to a trough draining position inwhich said open end of said trough is substantially open andunobstructed and in which at least a portion of said closure ispositioned below the plane of the bottom of said trough to permit arapid ow of liquid from said trough,

an actuating device, and

means connecting said actuating device to said end closure, saidactuating device and said connecting means being operable to distortsaid end closure to said trough draining position.

2. A watering device in accordance with claim 1 in which said connectingmeans comprises at least in part a rigid member secured to said flexibleend closure, and

said actuating device is operable to pivot at least a portion of saidrigid member from a generally vertical position to a `generallyhorizontal position in which at least a portion of said rigid member isdisposed below the plane of the bottom of said trough thereby distortingsaid end closure to said trough draining position.

3. A watering device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said closuremember is of thin, resilient material.

4. A watering device in accordance with claim 3 and where in saidactuating device is an electromagnet and the means connecting the sameto said closure member is a plunger.

5. A watering device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein saidactuating device is a rotary electric motor and the means connecting thesame to said closure member is a crank.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,100,154 Ashton Nov. 23, 1937 2,850,258 Lazich Sept. 2, 1958 2,886,218Marcus May 12, 1959

1. IN A WATERING DEVICE OF THE TYPE USED TO SUPPLY WATER TO POULTRY ANELONGATED GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED WATERING TROUGH HAVING ONE ENDTHEREOF OPEN A FLEXIBLE END CLOSURE HAVING EDGE PORTIONS FIXEDLY SECUREDIN FLUID-TIGHT RELATION TO SAID OPEN END OF SAID TROUGH, SAID ENDCLOSURE HAVING A NORMAL SHAPE SUCH AS TO EXTEND ACROSS THE OPEN END OFTHE TROUGH TO CLOSE SAID OPEN END TO CONFINE AT LEAST A PREDETERMINEDAMOUNT OF LIQUID IN SAID TROUGH FOR CONSUMPTION BY POULTRY, SAID ENDCLOSURE BEING DISTORTABLE TO A TROUGH DRAINING POSITION IN WHICH SAIDOPEN END OF SAID TROUGH IS SUBSTANTIALLY OPEN AND UNOBSTRUCTED AND INWHICH AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID CLOSURE IS POSITIONED BELOW THE PLANEOF THE BOTTOM OF SAID TROUGH TO PERMIT A RAPID FLOW OF LIQUID FROM SAIDTROUGH, AN ACTUATING DEVICE, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID ACTUATING DEVICETO SAID END CLOSURE, SAID ACTUATING DEVICE AND SAID CONNECTING MEANSBEING OPERABLE TO DISTORT SAID END CLOSURE TO SAID TROUGH DRAININGPOSITION.